Utility cleaner and brush



March 1959 s. SZABO EIAL UTILITY CLEANER AND BRUSH FiledNov. 25, 1957 4 INVENTOR-S GYOZO s BY PIROSKA sZABO ZABO ATTggwzy V United States Patent 2,879,532 UTILITY CLEANER AND BRUSH Gyozo Szabo and Piroska Szabo, New York, N.Y. Application November 25, 1957, SerialNo. 698,588 10 Claims. (Cl. 15-122) This invention relates to the art of utility cleaners and particularly concerns a device usable as a brush or abrasive scouring member.

According to the invention there is provided a cleaning device of general utility having a scouring head with a.

pivotally mounted handle. The scouring head has a. well for containing suitable soap granules. The scouring head has a plurality of bristles surrounding the well. A cover plate is pivotally mounted on the scouring head. This plate carries a sponge pad and abrasive sheet, steel wool layer or other abrasive element.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide a cleaner having a scouring head and pivotally mounted handle, with the scouring head including brush and abrasive cleaning members.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described including a sponge pad for taking up water and serving as a resilient base for an abrasive element.

Another object is to provide a cleaning device including a well for containing soap, with a sponge arranged to discharge water through the well to bristles carried by the device.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in whichthe various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a scouring device embodying the invention.

) Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the scouring head in an open position. i

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the scouring head of the device.

Referring to thedrawings, there is shown a scouring head H including anannular ring having a plurality of clumps of bristles 12 disposed'ina spaced circular ar-' rayaround the underside of the ring and projecting therefrom. Mounted in the center of the ring is a cylindrical well 14 having a radially extending flange 18 at one end seated in a groove 15 in. the top of the ring. The well has a fiat bottom 16 spaced from the bottom of the ring about midway of the length of the bristles 12. A plurality of holes 17 are providedin the bottom of the well.

,The ring 10 has flat cut-outs 20 at its sides which terminate in generally V-shaped recesses 21. Apertures 22 are provided at the inner ends of the cut-outs. In these apertures fit the bent fingers 24 located at the ends of a wire handle 25. The handle 25 is formed from a single length of wire bent to provide a loop 26 at its outer end. Between the sides 28 of the handle is mounted a rectangular block insert 30 provided with lateral grooves 31 in I A cylindrical clamp 32 is secured" on the handle at the inner ends of the insert 30 whichfit the sides 28.

. narrow passages 49 plate 45 by a layer to hold the sides 28 parallel to each other with the insert secured therebetween.

From clamp 32 the sides 28 extend outwardly to ter minate in arms 34. The handle pivots in the apertures 22 between the upper and lower inclined sides of the reends of the arms engaged between the sides of the re cesses and the knobs. When the handle is moved from one position to the other, the arms 34 spread outwardly to retract the fingers 24 slightly from apertures 22 as the arms pass the knobs 35. The arms are shown in this outwardly extended position in Figs. 3 and 4. When the arms are pivoted past the knobs, the arms spring inwardly to the fixed upper or lower position selected for the ham dle with respect to the scouring head.

Well 14 provides a cavity into which pieces of soap '40- in Fig. 2. Mounted over themay be placed as shown well is a hinge plate 41 having an upwardly extending hinge 42 at one end and an upwardly extending flexible tongue 43 at the other end. ring 10 by screws 44.

material secured thereto. The sheet. 52 is secured to the plate.

A wire loop 57 is anchored in plate 45. This loop is secured in the hinge 42 and the cover C of the securinghead pivots thereon. The edge 56 of the aperture 46 is beveled so that tongue 43 can engage thereover to hold the cover closed on the scouring head. Since the engage-f in tongue 43, the cover can readily be pivoted upwardly to expose the well for re filling it with soap or for cleaning when necessary. A'- recess 62 is provided in the underside of plate 45 in which that the plate 45 fits flush ment is under the tension fits the body of plate 41 so against the ring when the cover is closed.

To use the device, the well will be filled with soap in granular or fragmentary form. The cover will then be closed. If the device is inverted as shown in Fig. 3 un der a flowing water faucet and the abrasive end is squeezed and released, a quantity of water will be taken up in the sponge 50. An article to be cleaned by the brush may then be wetted by touching the bristles 12' thereto while the user holds the handle 25 in one hand and presses on the abrasive side 54 of the cover with the other hand. Simultaneously the user can rotate the bristles over the article to clean it with the released soapy water. The water released from the sponge will, of course, take up soap in passing through the well.

article being cleaned.

If a stronger abrasive action is needed, watermay be released upon the article to be cleaned by squeezing the" 54 readily conform to irregular surfaces and corners of Patented Mar. 31, 1959 The plate is attached to the The plate extends inwardly over' the open end of the well as clearly shown in Fig. 4. cover C including a plate 45 is provided for the well. This plate is a generally rectangular member having a red tangular central aperture 46 with a plurality of apertures" 47 extending therethrough. The apertures terminate in' at the outer side of the plate 45. Mounted on the outer side of plate 45 is a porous pad 50" of sponge rubber or plastic foam. Covering this pad is a strip or sheet of cloth 52 having a coating 54 of abrasive of adhesive 60 at each end of the The soapy water will pass through the apertures 17 in the well to the The abrasive side 54 of the scouring to be cleaned. The sponge 50 provides a resilient base for the abrasive 5 nmaterial so that the sheet 52 and its abrasive coating" the article being cleaned. When the position of the I scouring head is reversed for alternately using the bristles and the abrasive, the angular position of the handle will be changed with respect to the head by snapping the arms 34 past the knobs 35 as to lock the handle in one position or the other as explained above.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of .our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modificat1ons may be made within the scope of the invention a defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what-we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States' Letters Patent is:

1. A cleaning device, comprising an annular ring having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of clumps of bristles secured in a spaced array on the lower surface of the ring, a well disposed in the center of the ring, said well having a perforated bottom extending beyond said lower surface of the ring and surrounded by said bristles, a cover pivotally secured to the ring, said cover includmg a cover plate having a large central aperture therein, a porous sponge pad disposed on the outer side of the cover plate, and an abrasive member overlaying the sponge pad and secured to the cover plate.

2. A cleaning device, comprising an annular ring havmg upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of clumps of bristles secured in a spaced array on the lower surface of the ring, a well disposed in the center of the ring,

said well having a perforated bottom extending beyond said lower surface of the ring and surrounded by said bristles, a cover pivotally secured to the ring, said cover including a cover plate having a large central aperture therein, a porous sponge pad disposed on the outer side of the cover plate, and an abrasive member overlaying the sponge pad and secured to the cover plate, opposite lateral ends of the sponge pad being exposed beneath the abrasive member.

3. A cleaning device, comprising an annular ring having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of clumps of bristles secured in a spaced array on the lower surface of the ring, a well disposed in the center of the ring, said well having a perforated bottom extending beyond said lower surface of the ring and surrounded by said bristles, a cover pivotally secured to the ring, said cover including a cover plate having a large central aperture therein, a porous sponge pad disposed on the outer side of the cover plate, an abrasive member overlaying the sponge pad and secured to the cover plate, opposite lateral ends of the sponge pad being exposed beneath the abrasive member, and a handle pivotally secured to the ring.

4. A cleaning device, comprisingan annular ring having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of clumps of bristles secured in a spaced array on the lower surface of the ring, a well disposed in the center of the ring,

said well having a perforated bottom extending beyond said lower surface of the ring and surrounded by said bristles, a cover pivotally secured to the ring, said cover including a cover plate having a large central aperture therein, a porous sponge pad disposed on the outer side of the cover plate, an abrasive member overlaying the sponge pad and secured to the cover plate, opposite lateral ends of the sponge pad being exposed beneath the abrasive member, a handle pivotally secured to the ring, and coacting means on the ring and handle for selectively holding said handle in two fixed positions with respectto the bristles and the abrasive member.

5. A cleaning device, comprising an annular ring having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of clumps of bristles secured in a spaced array on the lower surface by said bristles, a cover pivotally secured to the ring and detachably securable thereon, said cover including a cover plate having a large central aperture therein, a porous sponge pad disposed on the outer side of the cover plate, an abrasive member overlaying the sponge pad and secured to the cover plate, opposite lateral ends of the sponge pad being exposed beneath the abrasive member, a handle pivotally secured to the ring, and coacting means on the ring and handle for selectively holding said handle in two fixed positions with respect to the bristles and the abrasive member.

6. A cleaning device, comprising an annular ring havingupper and lower surfaces, a plurality of clumps of bristles secured in a spaced array on the lower surface of the ring, a cylindrical well disposed in the center of the ring and having a perforated bottom wall extending beyond said lower surface of the ring and surrounded by said bristles, a hinge plate secured to the upper surof the ring, a cylindrical well disposed in the center of the ring, said well having a perforated bottom extendface of the ring, said plate having a hinge at one end and a resilient tongue at the other end, a cover including a cover plate, a loop secured to said cover plate and pivotally engaged in said hinge, said cover plate having a large central aperture, a porous sponge pad disposed on the outer side of the cover plate, an abrasive member overlaying the sponge pad and secured to opposite ends of the cover plate, opposite lateral ends of the sponge pad being exposed, said central aperture having a beveled edge portion over which said resilient tongue snaps, opposite side portions of the ring having flat cut-outs terminating in generally V-shaped recesses, a handle pivotally secured to said ring at said cut-outs, and coacting means on the ring and handle for selectively holding said handle in two predetermined fixed positions with respect to the bristles and abrasive member.

7. A cleaning device, comprising an annular ring having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of clumps of bristles secured in a spaced array on the lower surface of the ring, a cylindrical well disposed in the center of the ring and having a perforated bottom wall extending beyond said lower surface of the ring and surrounded by said bristles, a hinge plate secured to the upper surface of the ring, said plate having a hinge at one end and a resilient tongue at the other end, a cover including a cover plate, a loop secured to said cover plate and pivotally engaged in said hinge, said cover plate having a large central aperture, a porous sponge pad disposed on the outer side of the cover plate, an abrasive member overlaying the sponge pad and secured to opposite ends of the cover plate, opposite lateral ends of the sponge pad being exposed, said central aperture having a beveled edge portion over which said resilient tongue snaps, opposite side portions of the ring having flat cut-outs terminating in generally V-shaped recesses, and a handle formed of a single length of wire, said wire being bent to form a extending fingers at the other end, said ring being provided with apertures at the apices of the recesses, said I ,ring and having a perforated bottom wall extending beyond said lower surface of the ring and surrounded by said bristles, a hinge plate secured to the upper surface of the ring, said plate having a hinge at one end and a resilient tongue at the other end, a cover including a ,cover plate, a loop secured to said cover plate and pivotally engaged in said hinge, said cover plate having a large central aperture, a porous sponge pad disposed on the outer side of the cover plate, an abrasive member overlaying the sponge pad and secured to opposite ends of the cover plate, opposite lateral ends of the sponge pad being exposed, said central aperture having a beveled edge loop at one end and a pair of spaced arms with inwardly portion, over which said resilient tongue snaps, opposite side portions of the ring having flat cut-outs terminating in generally V-shaped recesses, a handle formed of a single length of wire, said wire being bent to form a loop at one end and a pair of spaced arms with inwardly extending fingers at the other end, said ring being provided with lateral apertures, said fingers being pivotally disposed in said apertures in the ring, and a clamp member holding opposite sides of the handle together.

9. A cleaning device, comprising an annular ring having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of clumps of bristles secured in a spaced array on the lower surface of the ring, a cylindrical well disposed in the center of the ring and having a perforated bottom wall extending beyond said lower surface of the ring and surrounded by said bristles, a hinge plate secured to the upper surface of the ring, said plate having a hinge at one end and a resilient tongue at the other end, a cover including a cover plate, a loop secured to said cover plate and pivotally engaged in said hinge, said cover plate having a large central aperture and a plurality of small apertures surrounding said central aperture, a porous sponge pad disposed on the outer side of the cover plate, an abrasive member overlaying the sponge pad and secured to opposite ends of the cover plate, opposite lateral ends of the sponge pad being exposed, said central aperture having a beveled edge portion, over which said resilient tongue snaps, opposite side portions of the ring having fiat cut-outs terminating in generally V-shaped recesses, a handle formed of a single length of wire, said wire being bent to form a loop at one end and a pair of spaced arms with inwardly extending fingers at the other end, said fingers being pivotally disposed in lateral apertures in the ring, a block insert secured between sides of the handle, and a clamp member holding said sides of the handle pressed against grooved sides of said block insert.

10. A cleaning device, comprising an annular ring having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of clumps of bristles secured in a spaced array on the lower surface of the ring, a cylindrical well disposed in the center of the ring and having a perforated bottom wall extending beyond said lower surface of the ring and surrounded by said bristles, a hinge plate secured to the upper surface of the ring, said plate having a hinge at one end and a resilient tongue at the other end, a cover including a cover plate, a loop secured to said cover plate and pivotally engaged in said hinge, said cover plate having a large central aperture and a plurality of small apertures surrounding said central aperture, a porous sponge pad disposed on the outer side of the cover plate, an abrasive member overlaying the sponge pad and secured to opposite ends of the cover plate, opposite lateral ends of the sponge pad being exposed, said central aperture having a beveled edge portion over which said resilient tongue snaps, opposite side portions of the ring having fiat cut-outs terminating in generally V-shaped recesses, a handle formed of a single length of wire, said wire being bent to form a loop at one end and a pair of spaced arms with inwardly extending fingers at the other end, said ring being provided with apertures at the apices of the recesses, said fingers being pivotally disposed in said apertures in the ring, a pair of knobs secured on said cut-outs adjacent said recesses so that said handle is selectively disposed in any one of two predetermined angular positions with respect to the bristles and abrasive member, a block insert secured between sides of the handle, and a clamp member holding said sides of the handle pressed against grooved sides of said block insert.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,933,291 Wolff Oct. 31, 1933 2,116,864 Fehrenbach May 10, 1938 2,197,224 Peterson Apr. 16, 1940 2,632,192 Mallory Mar. 24, 1953 2,661,491 Peterson Dec. 8, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,082,658 France June 23, 1955 

